Sewing machines



June 12, 1956 G. SAUER SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Skies I. 1

Filed April 18, 1951 INVENTOR. GEORGE SAUER ATTORNEY.

June 12, 1956 G. SAUER 2,749,859

SEWING MACHINES Filed April 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.GEORGE SAUER ATTORNEY.

June 12, 1956 Filed ApriI 18, 1951 G. SAUER SEWING MACHINES 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GEORGE SAUER ATTORNEY.

June 12, 1956 G. SAUER 2,749,859

SEWING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18, 1951 7 ]N V EN TOR. BYGEQRGE SAUER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent This invention relates to sewing machines, andparticularly to the work-feeding mechanism of suchjmaciiines "havingwhat is commonly known'as ram-mangan sdog The invention is particularlyapplicable toinadhihs for the closing of filled bags but ma'y also be'a'ppliedt o r'nachinesfdr the production of the bags themselves One ofthe objects of the invention is to vjgirovide a feedingmec'hanism of theaforementibhedtYpe in the feed-dog is adapted to be readilyadjusfedhorizontally along theline of feed with respect to the positionof the 'ne'e'dle'and may be locked in the adjustedjpositioh. H

fu'r'ther object of the invention is the 'provis'iohof readilyadjustable means whereby the feed dhgrnay 'b'e tilted and set either ina position in 'whi'chthe feedihg su'rfaceof the dog is in'a horizontalplane as it engages and advances the work o'r'one in which said suif'aceis 'tit a "slight angle to the horizontal, depending upon therequirerhents of the work being performed.

Through the combination of featutes employed lit;- taiiiing theforegoing objects the necessity for extreme 'ac'ciiracy'inth'econstruction of the'parts and the location of various'centers iseliminated since slight'inaccuracis may 'be compensated by theadjustments.

Another object of the invention is 'to prdvidejdtfbtiih lubrication forthe work feeding mechanism andnther "operating parts in amachine'positioned for theclosingdf filled bags, in which the main driveshaft is vertically provision of lubricant corftrol means which permitsthe free flow-of'oil to the bearings 'of the inachine when-'it'isoperating and which automatieallystops such-flow when the operation ofthe machine ceases.

disposed. A feature of this phaseofth'e ihventioh'is the Otherobj'ects,features, and adva'iitages'of the invention will appear from 'thedetailed description of 'an "illustrative embodiment of the same whichwill now be given in cohjunction with the accompanyihg'drawings, 'ihwhich:

Fig. its "a horizontal sectional viewthrough the machine 'taitenju'stbl'ow the work supporting surface, certain parts of the frame belowthat plane being broken away for clearer illustration of other parts;

Fig. 2 is an end elevationalview of the machine, with the cover of theneedle-head removed, 'as seen from "the left-handend of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational "rear view 'of the 'r'naclrihe in which thelongitudinal axis of 'the main drive shaft is disposed verticallyinstead of horizontally as in Figs; -l

and 2, the position being that used 'in the sewing 'of filled bags;

Fig. 4 shows, in exploded perspective form; *the various parts of thefeed-dog'arid feed-bar assembly; 'Fi'g. 4'21 shows in frag'rnente'iryform the upper portion of the feed-bar bracket as viewed from the rightin Fig. 4-,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, of the oil reservoirembodying the means for checkihg 'the how of oil when the machine is notin use; Fig. 5a is a ho'rizontal sectional view through the reservoir,taken along the line 5a of Fig. 5;

Figs. 6 and 6a show, in elevation and plan, respectively,

2,749,859 Patented June 12, 1956 an alternative arrangement of the checkvalve when only one lubricating tube is employed; and

I Fig. 7 is an axial sectional view through a portion of the drive shaftshowing the manner in which the oil from the reservoir is distributed tovarious bearings.

V In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine has been illustrated inthe conventional position assumed for the seaming of fiat'work, forexample, the production ofbags as distinguished from the sewing offilled bag s. It will be "understoodthat when the machine is used forthe, closing of lfilledjha'gsits position wili be such that thework-supporting 'surface will b e'dispose d in a ver'tical plane, i. e.,the base and the overhanging armjwill haveth'eir longitudinal ai te sdisposed vertically rath'er than h'oiizont'ally ahdlthe driving pulleywill be at the top as shown 3. The machin will besuppor'ted bya'pe'destalor'the like in substantially the same position as that'shdwn' ih 'tlie'pa'tehttb Ki'lcera et al., No. l,577,472,"grantedMarch23,1921; a W v The frame of the machine comprises a base lha'vin'g awork-supporting surface (notshown) from one end Elf which risesa'standard 2 (Figs. 2"a'nd 3). 'Arroverhaiig'ing "an'n3pi-ojectslaterallyfrom the upper 'e'ndof thestahdaid and terminatesin aneedle-head 4. A iri'aindrive than extends longitudinally thrgu'gh thebase 'andis journalen inevitable-bearings therein. To facilitateassemblythe *shaftis fe'r'med'in'twosectibns sand 5a (Fig. '1)'wh'r'chare j'oinedby'a coupling 5b so'as'toprovide in effect a singlecontinuous shaft. At its right 'end the shaft extends through the frameand projects therefrom, the pr'o'jecting an carryingacombined handwheel'and'pulley 6through which power for operating the machine may beapplied froin any suitable source. The shaft 'has a crank 7 forriied"thereon which carries a strap member 8. 'Apitman'is conriected'tothestrap'rhember, the modeof conhection being shown clearly in the co endinapplication 6f flscar Quist, Serial No. 211,457, filed February 17,

1951-, now Patent No. 2,636,463, issued April 28, 1953. "As also shownin that application, the upper end of the "pitman is connected with'o'neend of a needle-lever which is pivoted at or near its mid-point, asshown in said "application. The other end of the needle-lever isconnected'by a link 9 (Fig. 2) to a block 10'secured to a needle-bar 11which is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in bearing sleeves12 and 13 carried by the needle-head. As will be apparent, the11eedle=leve r will be oscillated by the rotation of the drive shaft 5,the motion being transmitted through the connections between the crank 7and the needle-lever to the needle-bar. The needle bar '11 carries aneedle at its lower end which is reciprocated through the work betweensuccessive feeding movements of the latter along the work-supportingsurface 15 (Fig. 2). At the lower end of the worksuPPorting surface, asshown in Fig. 3, there is a throat- -plate 16 provided with slotsthrough which the feed-dog 17 (Fig. '2) operates to feed the work thatis being 'sewn. The material being sewn, whether fiat or in the form ofa-filled bag, is held against the throat plate by means of a-presserfoot 18 (Fig. 2) which is pivoted at 20 to a supporting shank 21fastened to a resser-bar 19 mounted in suitable bearings in theneedle-head 4. The resser-foot 18 is normally maintained in contact withthe work by a spring 22 surrounding the resser-bar 19. Suitable means ofconventional character (not shown) are provided for lifting thepresser-bar for the introduction or removal of work.

' work-feeding mechanism, a portion of which v n Fig. 4, includes thefeed-dog 17 which is supported and given four movements, that is, it israised into engagement with the material, then moved forwardly forfeeding the material, then moved downwardly away from the material andthen returned to its initial position.

Feed and return movements are imparted to the feed-dog by a feed-bar 23in a manner to be presently described. As shown, the feed-bar is of theoifset type adapted to support the feed-dog to act along a line to theleft of the feed-rocker to be described. This enables formation of theframe in a way to facilitate movement of filled bags. The feed-bar isprovided at the left end of the offset portion with a vertical flange23a having a flat surface in which is formed a groove 61 which isproportioned to fit lugs 25 (Fig. 4a) projecting from the cooperatingface of a G-shaped feed-bar bracket 24 when these parts are assembled.The vertical flange 23a has a threaded opening therein adapted toreceive a screw 26 by which the bracket arm 24 is secured to thefeed-bar 23. An opening 60 in the upper portion of the bracket arm 24through which the screw 26 passes is elongated in a direction parallelwith the groove 61 so as to permit lateral adjustment of the bracket armwith respect to the bar 23 and also lateral adjustment of the feed-dog,which, as will presently be explained, is adjustably supported by thebracket arm 24; turning of the bracket-arm in relation to bar 23 isprevented by the engagement of the lugs 25 with the groove 61 in thevertical face 23a of the bar. In order to permit adjustment of thefeed-dog relative to the bracket-arm 24, it is not attached directly tothe bracket-arm but is supported, with capability of verticaladjustment, by a feed-dog holder 27, which, as will be explained, iscapable of angular adjustment with respect to the bracket-arm. Theholder 27 has an arcuate-shaped opening 29, through which a set screw 30may be inserted for engagement with a threaded opening 31 in thebracket-arm. Holder 27 also has therein an opening 28 through whichaccess may be had to the screw 26 when adjustment of the bracket-arm isdesired. The holder is provided with a channel 32 arranged to receive anarm 33 of feed-dog 17. An opening 62 in the channelled portion of theholder 27 permits passage therethrough of a screw 37 which extendsthrough an opening in the shank 33 of the feed-dog and is engaged withthreads in an opening 38 in the bracket-arm. Screw 37 provides a pivotfor the angular adjustment of the holder 27 as permitted by the opening29. A threaded opening 63 is provided in the holder 27 to receive aset-screw 64 which engages the under surface of one of thelongitudinally extending portions of the feed-dog. This guards againstrelative turning of the feed-dog in relation to the holder as thefeed-dog actively engages the work. A needle-guard holder 34 is providedfor retaining a needleguard 36, the holder having a channel 35 in theback thereof, which engages the shank 33 of the feed-dog and also havinga channel 65 in the opposite face thereof into which the shank of theneedle-guard 36 is fitted. The needle-guard and its holder, and also thefeed-dog 17 and the feed-dog holder 27 are secured to the bracket-arm 24by the screw 37 which passes through the alined openings in the severalparts and is engaged by the threaded opening 38 in the bracket-arm 24.The screw 37, as mentioned, constitutes a pivot upon which the feed-dogholder 27 may be turned, the extent of angular movement being determinedby the length of the arcuateshaped opening 29. Since the shank 33 of thefeed-dog is closely fitted within the channel 32 in the holder 27, itsangular position is determined by that of the holder which is held in adesired position of adjustment by tightening the screw 30. The mode ofmounting the feeddog makes it possible to adjust it in three ditferentways. It may be adjusted longitudinally of the toothed extensions by theshifting of the bracket-arm 24 with respect to the feed-bar 23, aspermitted by the elongated opening 60; vertical adjustment is permittedby the elongated opening in the shank 33 of the feed-dog, While angularadjustment is effected by the angular movement of the holder 27 aroundthe screw 37 as a pivot.

The feed-bar 23 is fastened to a shaft 39 (Fig. 1)

which is rockably supported by a feed-rocker 42 (Fig.

2). This feed-rocker is given rocking movements by a feed-strokeeccentric 40, the motion being transmitted through a pitman 41 to thefeed-rocker. Pitman 41 is connected to the rocker by a bolt 44 which maybe secured in any desired position along an arcuate-shaped slot 43 in anarm of the rocker. The rocker is fastened to a shaft 45 (Fig. 2) whichis supported by suitable bearings at the rear of the base of the frame.It will be understood that rocking movements thus imparted to the rocker42 serve to reciprocate the feed-bar 23 and through it the feed-dog 17.The extent of rocking movement of the rocker 42 and hence thelongitudinal movement of the feed-bar, may be regulated by adjusting theposition of the bolt 44 in the slot 43, the slot being of sufficientlength to provide the desired range of movement of the feed-bar.

Bracket-arm 24 is connected by a pitman 66 (Fig. 2) with an eccentric 67which is carried by the main shaft, thereby serving to rock the feed-barabout its pivot 39 to carry the feed-dog 17 into and out of engagementwith the work. Thus the feed-dog is given the desired fourmotionmovement to engage the work and advance it and then return to itsinitial position.

Beneath the work-support is a four-motion looper 46 (Fig. 2) whichcoacts with the needle in the formation of stitches. The looper ismounted on the upper end of a looper-carrier 47 which is pivotallysupported by a bolt 48 carried by an arm 48a secured to a shaft 48brockably mounted in the base of the machine. Attached to the carrier 47is a ball-pin which is encircled by a strap at one end of a link 49, theopposite end of which also has a strap that encircles a ball-pin carriedby an arm 50 (Fig. 1). This arm extends from a member 50a which isrocked about a fixed shaft 51 extending laterally of the base of themachine. As more fully explained in the copending Quist applicationhereinabove mentioned, the member 50a is rocked by connections from alooper stroke eccentric 52 carried by the main shaft 5. Theseconnections include a sleeve 51a mounted on the shaft 51 and having anarm 51b connected by a springurged pin 51c with an arm of member 50a.Sleeve 51a has an arm 51d carrying a ball-pin connected with the lowerend of a pitman having a strap at its upper end cooperating with theeccentric 52. Means are also provided to impart needle avoid movementsto the looper in properly timed relation to theloop-seizing-and-shedding movements imparted by the mechanism abovedescribed. Such means includes an arm 480 secured to the shaft 48bpivotally connected with the lower end of a pitman having a strap 48dsurrounding an eccentric on the main shaft 5a.

As hereinabove indicated, means are provided for controlling the fiow oflubricating oil to the work-feeding mechanism and other parts when themachine is in the position shown in Fig. 3, i. e., in which the machineis used for closing filled bags. When so positioned the oil forlubricating the work-feeding devices and other parts of the machine isfed from a reservoir 53 through various tubes 53a (Fig. 3). One of thetubes 53a may, for example, extend to a pocket 53b (Fig. 3) from whichthe lubricant may be supplied through wicking 68 in a bore 68a, Figs. 3and 7, to a bearing 69a in a wall 69 (Figs. 1 and 7) in the machinebase. The left-hand section 512 of the main shaft is hollow and ispreferably filled with wicking, the oil being conducted to the wickingin the shaft through a hole 70 drilled therein which communicates withthe bore 68a. The lubricant is then delivered from the bore of the shaftthrough radial openings alined with the various bearings and eccentrics,such as the feed eccentric 40 and a trimmer operating eccentric 72 (Fig.7). The lubricant delivered to the hearing has a tendency to flowdownwardly by gravity along the surface of the main shaft when it is inthe vertical operating position assumed for. bag closing purposes and isapt to be discharged on'to points where it is not desired; To prevent;

such flow of oil, a helical groove 54' is 'providedin the bearing 69aadjacent to its lower end; the direction of the spiral. being; such thatany oil; flowing; alongthe shaft will be forced upwardly by the pumpingaction of the groove. When the machine is stopped, the oil remaining inthe reservoin would naturally continue to feed to the various partsuntil the reservoir isempty. In order to avoid that result, acheck valveis provided in thereservoir, this valve consisting of a ball- 55positioned within a cage 56 which is fastened to the bottomwall of thereservoir, the cage consisting of two U-shaped wires the planes of whichare preferably disposed at 90 in relation to each other. The cage is sopositioned that when the machine is not in operation the ball will restin the opening of a passageway 57 extending from the reservoir to amanifold 53 from which the several tubes 53a lead to various parts ofthe machine and will thus block the passageway from the reservoir. Whenthe machine is running, its Vibration keeps the ball from seating and inconsequence the oil will readily flow from the reservoir through thepassageway 57 to the manifold and thence through the tubes to variousparts of the machine. When the machine stops operating, the ball willseat itself again in the opening to the passageway and thereby the flowof oil from the reservoir will be automatically stopped. The ball ispreferably formed of steel or other metal and in any event issubstantially heavier than or of greater mass than the oil which itdisplaces.

The ball check-valve of the lubricating system may, if desired, belocated directly at the upper end of the lubricant delivery tube 53a, asshown in Figs. 6 and 6a, instead of being located as shown in Fig. 5.U-shaped wires 56a are then mounted on a small fitting at the top of thetube and serve to retain a ball 55a over the upper end of a smallpassage through the fitting. The latter may be screwed into the lowerend of the reservoir. This arrangement is desirable when only a singledelivery tube 53a is provided. It will be understood that the ball willseat itself in the orifice at the top of the fitting upon the cessationof vibration of the machine when its operation is stopped. The oilreservoir may be filled through a Gits oil cup 73 at its top.

The machine may be used for the seaming of flatwork, as in theproduction of bags, and when so used the work-supporting surface and theoverhanging arm will be disposed horizontally. However, the machine isparticularly suited for the closing of filled bags and for that purposethe work-supporting surface and the overhanging arm will be verticallydisposed. It will be understood that whenever reference is made hereinto the vertical or horizontal disposition or movement of any of theparts of the machine, this is with reference to the arrangement of themachine with the work-supporting surface and the overhanging armdisposed horizontally. While the invention has been disclosed in aparticular form of embodiment, it will be understood that theconstruction and the arrangement of the parts may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewing machine having a main drive shaft, a work-feedingmechanism comprising a rockable member, connections from said shaft forrocking said member, a feed-bar pivotally connected to said member andarranged for longitudinal reciprocation thereby, an arm rigidlyconnected with the feed-bar and extending lengthwise in a generaldirection transverse to the direction of reciprocation of the feed-bar,said feed-bar and said arm having tongue and groove formations extendingin the direction of said longitudinal reciprocation to enable adjustmentof said arm longitudinally of said feed-bar, means for securing said armin adjusted position on said feed-bar,- connections from said shaft tosaid arm for causing pivotal movement of the bar in relation to saidmember, and a feed-dog connected" with said arm, the connection betweensaid feed-doga-nd said arm being: arranged to enable tilting of thefeed-dog in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the; main shaft.

2. In a sewing machine having: a main drive shaft and a framesupportingsaid shaft, the combination of a rockable member, meansconnecting said rnemberto said shaft, said connecting means beingarranged to impart a rocking motion tosaid=rnember, a feed-barconnected. to said member andarr-anged' to receive longitudinalreciprocatorymotion therefrom, abracket detachably andadjustablyconnected to said feed-bar, said bracket and said feed bar havingcooperating faces in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said shaft,means for confining relative adjustment of said bracket and feed bar toa direction parallel with the longitudinal reciprocatory motion of saidbar and for retaining said faces in adjusted relation to each other,said bracket extending lengthwise in a direction generally transverse tosaid feed-bar, means connecting said bracket to said drive shaftarranged to impart movement to said bracket in a direction transverse tosaid longitudinal reciprocatory motion, and a feed-dog connected to saidbracket and receiving four-motion movements therefrom, the feeddog beingpivotally connected with said bracket and being so arranged as to enabletilting of the feed-dog in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the maindrive shaft.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, a drive shaft, a feed-bar, meansconnecting said shaft with said feed-bar to impart forward and backwardmotion to said feed-bar, the feed-bar having a vertical flange at oneend thereof, the flange being perpendicular to the axis of the driveshaft, a bracket fastened to said bar, said flange and said brackethaving faces provided with interengaging groove and lug means thereonwhereby the bracket may be adjusted longitudinally of the feed-bar,means to secure the bracket to the feed-bar in adjusted position, afeed-dog holder fastened to said bracket, a feed-dog positioned in saidholder and fastened thereto, means affording a pivot and serving tosecure said feed dog to said holder, said holder being pivotally mountedon said last mentioned means and being capable of angular adjustmentabout said means, and means for retaining said holder in adjustedposition.

4. In a sewing machine, in combination, a drive shaft, a rock member,connections from said shaft for rocking said member forward and backwardupon rotation of said shaft, a feed-bar connected with said rock memberfor longitudinal reciprocation thereby, a C-shaped bracket connected tosaid feed-bar, the bracket being adjustable longitudinally of saidfeed-bar and confined to such adjustment in relation to said feed-bar,means accessible from the side of said bracket for securing the same tosaid feed bar in any adjusted position, connections from said driveshaft to said bracket for imparting up-and-down motion to said bracket,a feeddog holder having a channel therein, a feed-dog having an armfitted within said channel, and a screw fastening said feed-dog and saidholder to said bracket, said holder being arranged for angularadjustment about said screw.

5. In a sewing machine having a frame and a main drive shaft mountedtherein, the combination of a rock member carried by said frame,connections from said drive shaft for rocking said member, a feed-barpivotally connected with said rock member, said feed-bar having at itsforward end a laterally projecting part which extends longitudinallytoward the free end of said drive shaft and overlies the latter, abracket arm connected with said feed-bar adjacent the end of said part,the connection between said arm and feed-bar being such as to enablerelative adjustment thereof only in a direction longitudinally of themain axis of said bar, means accessible from the side of said bracketarm for securing the same to said feed bar, and a feed-dog secured tosaid bracket arm.

6. In a sewing machine having a main drive shaft and a frame to supportsaid shaft, a feed-bar driven forwardly 7 and backwardly by said driveshaft, a bracket adjustably connected to said feed-bar and confined foradjustment longitudinally thereof, means extending through said bracketfor securing said bracket to said feed bar, connections from said driveshaft to said bracket arranged to impart up-and-down motion to saidbracket and through the latter to said feed-bar, a feed-dog, and meansconnected to said bracket to support said feed-dog, said feeddogsupporting means being angularly adjustable on said bracket and arrangedto tilt said feed-dog in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the maindrive shaft, and said 1,145,620 ,Seymour July 6, 1915 1,817,727 WohlpartAug. 4, 1931 1,992,781 Smith Feb. 26, 1935 2,529,573 Ritter Nov. 14,1950 2,530,860 Christensen et a1 Nov. 21, 1950

